The committee constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to decide the presentations on Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) Vice-Chancellors’ alleged illegal appointment in 10 days could not settle the issue even in ten months, The Nation has learnt.

Official sources in the provincial Higher Education Department (HED) said that the matter was not of importance for the committee. Citing reasons, they said that the committee was formed just to cool down the complainants. They further said that how the committee members who were part of the selection process for the VC could set aside their own decision.

It is pertinent to mention here that a committee was formed by the chief minister to examine the eligibility of the newly-appointed Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Uzma Qureshi. Another candidate for the slot, Dr Rukhsana Kausar, had challenged Dr Qureshi’s appointment.

Dr Qureshi was appointed conditionally as the HED notification stated the decision was subject to the final outcome of a complaint filed by Dr Rukhsana Kausar to the secretary.

Interestingly, the committee comprised of the members Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi as chairman, Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Dr Nizamuddin, ITU varsity VC Dr Umar Saif, and Higher Education Department (HED) secretary as members. Interestingly, all four members had been part of the search committee.

Dr Rukhsana had filed a representation to the Secretary Higher Education Department Punjab on 04-11-2016. It is pertinent to mention that the said representation was made on account of Dr Qureshi’s deficiency in terms of required HEC recognised research publications, a pre-requisite for the said post. The said representation is still pending and no decision has been made to date, even after the lapse of approximately one year and five months. Dr Qureshi did not even fulfill the requirement of HEC recognised at the time of her selection in 2010 as Professor of Education in LCWU.

Later, Dr Kausar was appointed as LCWU VC in December 2016 on the direction of the Lahore High Court. When Dr Rukhsana was sent abroad as a delegation head for shining stars, on the very next working day, the Punjab government, without settling the representation, appointed Dr Quraishi as the VC on 29-05-2017.

When contacted the HED Secretary Barrister Nabeel Awan, the HEC Chairman Dr Nizamuddin and the ITU VC Dr Umar Saif on the issue, no one responded the queries. When contacted a CM office officer on anonymity said that the office was not updated on the latest situation on the subject matter. He said that the CM Shehbaz Sharif would surely take notice if the representation against the lapse of the committee he constituted was filed to his office. He said that the HED would make the fresh appointments when the courts would settle the VCs’ issues pending in them. 

It is relevant to mention here that the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar has already taken suo moto case no HRC H.R.C.13865/ P/ 2018 on universities’ VCs appointments.

In this regard, Dr Faisal Masood VC King Edward University and Nishtar Medical University VC Dr Zafar Hussain Tanvir had to resign on illegal appointments. The apex court had also directed the government constituted search committee to make the fresh appointment.